VA State Of Emergency Declared Ahead Of Hurricane Ian

VIRGINIA — Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency Wednesday evening to prepare for the arrival of the remnants of Hurricane Ian in Virginia.

The storm should be a tropical depression by the time it reaches Virginia, and is expected to affect the state starting Friday, Sept. 30, the governor's office said.

Hurricane Ian made landfall at 3:05 p.m. Tuesday near Fort Myers, Florida, as a category 4 storm with 155 mph sustained winds. The hurricane has knocked down power lines, cell phone towers and cut electricity to more than 1.59 million residents.

“Hurricane Ian is a large, powerful storm, and current predictions indicate that it may impact parts of Virginia later this week into early next week,” Youngkin said in a statement. “We want to ensure that our communities have the resources needed to respond to and recover from any potential effects from the storm. While we recognize that the storm track is still uncertain, I nevertheless encourage all Virginians and visitors to make a plan, have supplies on hand, and follow official sources for the latest forecast information and guidance.”

The National Hurricane Center predicts Ian's remnants will move into western counties in Virginia by Saturday afternoon.

The emergency declaration allows the state to mobilize resources and equipment needed for response and recovery efforts. Virginians should prepare for severe rainfall, flooding, wind damage, tornadoes and other storm-related impacts, Youngkin said.

• Stay up-to-date by viewing all Hurricane Ian coverage on Florida Patch sites here.

The full text of Executive Order 22 is available here.

Store Preparation Tips For Virginians

Make a plan. Plan in advance a route to a safe place, how you will stay in contact with family and friends, and what you will do in different situations. Additional planning resources are available at https://www.vaemergency.gov/prepare/make-a-plan/.

Prepare an emergency kit. For a list of recommended emergency supplies to sustain your household before, during, and after the storm visit: VAemergency.gov/emergency-kit.

Stay informed. Virginians should follow the Virginia Department of Emergency Management on Twitter and Facebook for preparedness updates and their local National Weather Service office for the latest weather forecast, advisories, watches or warnings. Download the FEMA app on your smartphone to receive mobile alerts from the National Weather Service. Power outages are always a concern during weather events—make sure you have a battery-operated radio available so you can still receive life-saving alerts.

For more information about preparing your business, your family, and your property against hurricane threats visit: VAemergency.gov/hurricanes and ready.gov/hurricanes.

The Virginia Emergency Support Team is monitoring the storm and coordinating resources and information to prepare for potential landfall in the state. The Virginia Emergency Operations Center will coordinate preparedness, response, and recovery efforts with local, state and federal officials.